The Subaru Forester is a SUV built from 1998 to 2026 over 3 generations. Most were assembled in Japan — 99.7% of those on record. Between 1998 and 2026 it grew 18 cm longer and gained 225 kg. Engines offered: 4-cyl, Hybrid. Worth buying? It holds up well, with the usual caveat about model years at 4.0/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the Forester is
The Subaru Forester is a SUV that Subaru built from 1998 to 2026 — 29 model years. Our measurements put it at 3 generations, the current one starting in 2019. It has been offered with 4-cyl, Hybrid power. Its closest siblings in the Subaru range: Outback, Baja, B9 Tribeca.
Where the Forester is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 5,989 Foresters on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | JF2, JF1 | 1998-2025 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Subaru VIN decide which of these 3 lines your Forester belongs to. What every character in a Forester VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Subaru Forester adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
Forester generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the Forester's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the Forester that gives 3 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-2008 | 445 cm | 252 cm | 1365 kg | - | - |
| 2009-2018 | 456 cm | 262 cm | 1483 kg | +11 cm | +118 kg |
| 2019-2026 | 463 cm | 267 cm | 1590 kg | +7 cm | +107 kg |
Between 1998 and 2026 the Forester gained 18 cm in length (+4.0%) and 225 kg in weight (+16.5%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the Forester that is 225 kg against 18 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Subaru Forester tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment Forester owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Subaru Forester have? Power & range
The Subaru Forester is offered with 2 powertrains — 2.5L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl Hybrid. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 2 for the Subaru Forester, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-cyl | 2.5L · 4-cyl | CVT | AWD | Regular |
| Hybrid | 2.5L · 4-cyl | CVT | AWD | Regular |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Can a Subaru Forester tow? Towing & payload
As an SUV, the Subaru Forester is built to tow and haul. The exact maximum towing capacity and payload depend on the engine, drivetrain and whether it has the factory tow package.
What sets your Forester's tow & payload rating:
- Engine — a larger or turbocharged engine tows more than the base unit.
- Drivetrain & axle — 4WD/AWD and the axle ratio shift the rating.
- Tow package — the factory towing package (hitch, wiring, transmission cooler) raises the max.
- Payload & GVWR — GVWR caps the combined load; more passengers and cargo lower how much you can tow.
Exact towing capacity, payload and GVWR are added per engine, drivetrain and trim — decode your VIN above, or check the driver's door-jamb and hitch labels. Curb weight from vehicle specifications.
The Forester by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Subaru Forester. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | Forester | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 120 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 6,479 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.0 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Crash safety | ★★★★★ NHTSA | Frontal, side, rollover |
| Insurance | $946/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 5,585 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Subaru Forester?
The Forester is a SUV, built from 1998 to 2026 across 3 generations. Engines offered: 4-cyl, Hybrid.
Where is the Subaru Forester made?
Across 5,989 cars in our records the split is: Japan (99.7%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the Forester have?
3 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2019. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the Forester grew 18 cm longer and gained 225 kg.
What is the Subaru Forester warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the Forester reliable?
It scores 4.0/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific Forester?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Subaru
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subaru Outback | 2005–2026 | 159 | 30 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Subaru Crosstrek | 2016–2026 | 25 | 36 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Subaru Impreza | 1993–2026 | 183 | 32 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Subaru WRX | 2015–2026 | 12 | 24 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Subaru Legacy | 1990–2026 | 222 | 30 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Subaru Ascent | 2019–2026 | 25 | 23 mpg | 4.5/5 |